How to Find a Job
- Determine what you want to do: This may be easy for you. If you have had a job in the past that you enjoyed and would like to do the same type of work again, you have your answer. If you had a job in the past that left you unfulfilled though, you have to determine what would have made that job better and find a new position that will put you in a position to achieve your goals. Tools: Career Goals Worksheet
- Identify target companies: Identify the companies in the area where you would like to work and look for the right position within that company. Tools: Target company worksheet, Monster, Corporate Web Sites, The Street.com
- Tap your network: The best way to find a job is to use your network. Sometimes people you know within a company will know about jobs that haven’t even been posted yet. Who do you know at your target companies? Who do you know that might know someone at your target company? Tools: Address book, Business cards, Rolodex, LinkedIn.com
- Identify target positions: Once you have identified a target company, you need to narrow your focus to a target position within that company. Tools: Company jobs boards, Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, Newspaper.
- Market Yourself: Many people start with creating a resume, and a good resume foundation is essential. It can be reused with several positions, but you should never send the exact same resume out twice. Look at the position you are applying for and adjust your resume to have the same types of key words, to showcase the pieces of work that are mentioned specifically in the job posting, and to minimize irrelevant pieces of information. Recruiters are trained to scan a resume and cover letter in 15 seconds. Make the relevant information obvious for them. Make sure you keep copies of each of your resume versions. During interviews, the interviewer will likely reference the resume, so you want to be looking at the same piece of paper. Tools: Resume template
- Plan your search: You have to treat your job search like a job. Plan your day every day. Know who you are going to call, where you are going to post your resume, and how long you are going to spend working on your job search. Tool: Job search planner template
- Track your progress: Keep weekly track of your activities and progress. This can serve to help you adjust your strategy as you go and can be a morale boost if you start to get down. The job search is two things. First, it’s a numbers game. Every call you make, and every interview you attend gets you closer to the right job. Second, it’s a quest. I didn’t say this is a journey, because it is more like a classic quest. Odysseus was trapped on an island, chased by Neptune, and tricked by Circe before making his way home. Know that there will be steps forward and backward in your search, but you must continue on. Tracking your progress can help you keep track of where you’ve been. Tools: Weekly Activity Worksheet
- Follow up: Actively schedule your follow up activities. Put recruiters, hiring managers, and networking contacts on a follow up list. Avoid the temptation of following up too often. If you speak with someone who doesn’t have any progress to share, ask when you can follow up, and make a note on your follow up list. Tool: Follow up sheet, Outlook tasks
- Prepare for the interview: Find out as much as you can about the position and the company before the interview. Prepare questions you would like to ask for clarification. Recruiters are trained that they are judged by the quality of their questions rather than the quality of their answers. They tend to expect the same of candidates. Make sure you are ready to ask the key interview follow up questions.
"Did you see anything in my answers or background that concern you, or that you need me to clarify?" Asking this question will allow you to speak to any issues the interviewer has and know where you stand.
"What are the next steps in the process?" This puts you in a position to have your expectations set and further clarify where you stand. This also forces the recruiter or hiring manager to give you a deadline and therefore the right to follow up if they don't meet the expectation they set.
Tools: Company web site, Google, Other research web sites - Negotiate Salary: This is a tricky piece of the job search process. You will be asked on several occasions to supply your expected salary throughout the job search process. The company will use this information as a starting point and will tend to negotiate down from there. I tend to advise candidates not to give this information if at all possible. Sometimes you have to. The bottom line in a salary negotiation is that the person who names a number first tends to be in the weaker position. You should know what you want and what your minimum acceptable salary is in order to keep your family in a good financial position. Tools: salary.com (job salary survey)
posted by Jason Roberts @ 7:23 AM
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